Generations in Jazz 2025
Generations in Jazz 2025 was such a positive and thrilling experience for the students involved. All of us were provided with the opportunity to listen to one of the best big bands in the world, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, and many other incredible artists. While jazz choir 1 was the only group to place (1st place), everyone gave it their all and were very encouraging to one another.
Congratulations have to be made for Ollie S for getting into the Div 1 Superband on tenor sax, and then Elinor H who not only got into the Div 1 Superband on trumpet but was also nominated as a Future Finalist and won the Wayne Bergeron Most Outstanding Trumpet Player award.
The weather was perfect with blue skies and not a drop of rain! Thankfully there was no mud but everyone has come home quite dusty.
Marisen T and Isla G
Over the course of the last 25 years, the Big Phat Band has been fortunate to have participated in a number of memorable concerts. A great many of them stick out in my mind and are unique in their own way. I try not to over use superlatives, but I cannot escape the conclusion that the gig we did last night at Generations in Jazz in Australia may been the most exciting and unforgettable gig we’ve ever done.
Gordon Goodwin’s Facebook post after Saturday night’s concert.
This was our third appearance at GIJ and while the first two concerts remain high points in my mind. The experience we had last night maybe cannot be topped.
We played for an audience of 5000 Australian music students, who started screaming at our first note. I figured they would chill out a little bit eventually, but in fact, the intensity grew throughout the entire concert when we got to our last two songs, the crowd rushed the stage, and we had a Big Phat Band mosh pit on our hands. During our last song called THE JAZZ POLICE I think the level of the crowd easily overwhelmed the level of the band itself.
I admit that I started to wonder about the level of hearing damage I was experiencing, the truth was it was an overwhelming and exhilarating experience. Here we had 5000 young people cheering wildly, not for Taylor Swift, but for big band music! It truly was something I will never forget.
I am so happy and proud for the members of the Big Phat Band. It was so gratifying to see them receive the respect and adulation they deserve.
Wayne BergeronÂ, who is possibly the best lead Trumpet player on the planet right now, said that out of all of the concerts, recording sessions and gigs that he has done in historic career, this one might be the most memorable of them all.
Thank you to the Australian music students and to the staff at Generations in Jazz for providing this fantastic experience.
